A FEMA UPDATE was given to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, June 21st in Loyalton by Sierra County Planning Director Tim Beals. He reported they recently had an “animated” phone discussion with FEMA where the top two people pulled out of the phone call at the last minute. He felt the reason for the meeting was to wipe clean all the commitments FEMA had made to Sierra County. Beals called it frustrating as FEMA is trying to place the burden on the City of Loyalton and Sierra County to do the fieldwork for them. He said their model is full of holes and FEMA has no budget for it. Beals stated they left the meeting with a commitment that this would get turned around. He stated this is a big deal as it impacts every aspect of a property owner’s existence. This topic will be put on the next agenda.
CONVEYANCE of the Sierra Brooks RV Campground property back to the Sierra Brooks Property Owners Association consistent with the completion of the Sierra Brooks Water System Project was discussed during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting held in Loyalton on Tuesday. Sierra County Planning Director Tim Beals explained the Sierra Brooks Property Owners Association conveyed the parcel to the County who in turn negotiated an exchange with Fish and Game to acquire a one-acre parcel that contains the new pump station developed with the grant/loan for the water project, as well as receiving road rights of way, pipeline easements, and a half acre containing the old pump station. They exchanged stream frontage contained in the campground parcel for these acquisitions and the remainder of the parcel still remains in County ownership. The agreement the County had with the HOA is that once the exchange had finalized and the project was completed, the County would convey the remainder parcel containing the campground back to the HOA. This process had to be done in this manner, as Fish and Game would only negotiate with the County as owner, not an HOA or non-profit. The Deed will need to be done by the County Surveyor to convey the RV campground back to the homeowners. Supervisor Sharon Dryden remarked there has been a lot of interest from the community to get this done. She said the campground has looked better than it has in years, adding the County is returning it better then they received it. The conveyance was approved by concensus.
A SPECIAL SIERRA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ meeting will be held Wednesday, June 29th at 10 a.m. in Downieville to discuss the solid waste budget for Fiscal Year 2022-23. Planning Director Tim Beals stated he was prepared to complete the budget but needed to assess what the fee would be. He said they were down on revenues but in a good position to “hold the line” on the budget and didn’t think there would be an increase.
A RESOLUTION authorizing and approving the grant application filed with USDA Emergency Rural Health Care Grants for funding toward the Downieville Community Hall Renovation Project, as well as directing inclusion of the grant budget in the Fiscal Year 22‐23 budget was approved unanimously during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting in Loyalton on June 21st. Renovation work, if funded by this grant program, would include all work necessary to remodel the existing building with new ADA accessible public restrooms, a new commercial kitchen, a renovated community room suitable for health clinics, meal service and food distribution, and provide ADA access to the second floor assembly room. The application requests $185,500 in Federal Grant Funding, $135,000 in donations; County match of $209,200 for a project total of $530,000. Planning Director Tim Beals said he appreciated the help from Frank Lang and Vickie Clark in getting pictures of the Hall being used as a vaccination clinic.
A separate resolution was unanimously approved for another grant application through USDA Emergency Rural Health Care Grants for funding toward the Sierraville Community Center Renovation Project. This proposed renovation includes shingle roof replacement including work on eaves and addition of gutter system; replacement of all exterior doors (except original front and side doors due to historical value); concrete and stucco repair; kitchen appliances, ceiling tile replacement; and window repair (glazing per historical plan). The grant application requests $326,970 in federal funds, County match is $108,990, for a project totalling $435,960. Beals hoped they might be able to use some of this funding for the Community Hall in Calpine.
DIRECTION REGARDING PROHIBITING OPEN FIRES on public and private property within the unincorporated area of Sierra County due to extreme fire danger was discussed during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting held in Loyalton on Tuesday, June 21st. Supervisor Peter Huebner led the discussion stating he felt it was necessary because even with rain there was still a huge danger of fire. Huebner talked about Sardine Lake with reports of fires and illegal fireworks. He felt it was important to impose this. Supervisor Lee Adams reported he received one email from a resident asking them to hold off on this. He felt residents would get angry to impose this too early. Board Chair Paul Roen agreed it was too early adding Forest Service staffing is full and soil moisture index is running low. He wanted to continue monitoring this and stated they could take action down the road. Forest service ramps up as the indexes ramp up. Supervisor Sharon Dryden felt the greatest risk was lightning right now and was not inclined to have a ban yet until the Forest Service implements it. Roen added that last year was extreme circumstances and felt at this point it was a whole different situation than last year. Huebner was concerned with open campfires in campgrounds. Adams remarked they don’t control campfires on national forest lands. This topic will be put on the next agenda.
CONVEYANCE of the Sierra Brooks RV Campground property back to the Sierra Brooks Property Owners Association consistent with the completion of the Sierra Brooks Water System Project was discussed during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting held in Loyalton on Tuesday. Sierra County Planning Director Tim Beals explained the Sierra Brooks Property Owners Association conveyed the parcel to the County who in turn negotiated an exchange with Fish and Game to acquire a one-acre parcel that contains the new pump station developed with the grant/loan for the water project, as well as receiving road rights of way, pipeline easements, and a half acre containing the old pump station. They exchanged stream frontage contained in the campground parcel for these acquisitions and the remainder of the parcel still remains in County ownership. The agreement the County had with the HOA is that once the exchange had finalized and the project was completed, the County would convey the remainder parcel containing the campground back to the HOA. This process had to be done in this manner, as Fish and Game would only negotiate with the County as owner, not an HOA or non-profit. The Deed will need to be done by the County Surveyor to convey the RV campground back to the homeowners. Supervisor Sharon Dryden remarked there has been a lot of interest from the community to get this done. She said the campground has looked better than it has in years, adding the County is returning it better then they received it. The conveyance was approved by concensus.
A SPECIAL SIERRA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ meeting will be held Wednesday, June 29th at 10 a.m. in Downieville to discuss the solid waste budget for Fiscal Year 2022-23. Planning Director Tim Beals stated he was prepared to complete the budget but needed to assess what the fee would be. He said they were down on revenues but in a good position to “hold the line” on the budget and didn’t think there would be an increase.
A RESOLUTION authorizing and approving the grant application filed with USDA Emergency Rural Health Care Grants for funding toward the Downieville Community Hall Renovation Project, as well as directing inclusion of the grant budget in the Fiscal Year 22‐23 budget was approved unanimously during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting in Loyalton on June 21st. Renovation work, if funded by this grant program, would include all work necessary to remodel the existing building with new ADA accessible public restrooms, a new commercial kitchen, a renovated community room suitable for health clinics, meal service and food distribution, and provide ADA access to the second floor assembly room. The application requests $185,500 in Federal Grant Funding, $135,000 in donations; County match of $209,200 for a project total of $530,000. Planning Director Tim Beals said he appreciated the help from Frank Lang and Vickie Clark in getting pictures of the Hall being used as a vaccination clinic.
A separate resolution was unanimously approved for another grant application through USDA Emergency Rural Health Care Grants for funding toward the Sierraville Community Center Renovation Project. This proposed renovation includes shingle roof replacement including work on eaves and addition of gutter system; replacement of all exterior doors (except original front and side doors due to historical value); concrete and stucco repair; kitchen appliances, ceiling tile replacement; and window repair (glazing per historical plan). The grant application requests $326,970 in federal funds, County match is $108,990, for a project totalling $435,960. Beals hoped they might be able to use some of this funding for the Community Hall in Calpine.
DIRECTION REGARDING PROHIBITING OPEN FIRES on public and private property within the unincorporated area of Sierra County due to extreme fire danger was discussed during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting held in Loyalton on Tuesday, June 21st. Supervisor Peter Huebner led the discussion stating he felt it was necessary because even with rain there was still a huge danger of fire. Huebner talked about Sardine Lake with reports of fires and illegal fireworks. He felt it was important to impose this. Supervisor Lee Adams reported he received one email from a resident asking them to hold off on this. He felt residents would get angry to impose this too early. Board Chair Paul Roen agreed it was too early adding Forest Service staffing is full and soil moisture index is running low. He wanted to continue monitoring this and stated they could take action down the road. Forest service ramps up as the indexes ramp up. Supervisor Sharon Dryden felt the greatest risk was lightning right now and was not inclined to have a ban yet until the Forest Service implements it. Roen added that last year was extreme circumstances and felt at this point it was a whole different situation than last year. Huebner was concerned with open campfires in campgrounds. Adams remarked they don’t control campfires on national forest lands. This topic will be put on the next agenda.
